Gate latch



Apr. 3, 1923 1,450,443

M. H. JUDGE GATE LATCH Filed Apr. '7, 1921 2 sheets-sheet l Apr. a, 1923M. H. JUDGE GATE LATCH Filed Apr. '7, y1921 2 sheets-sheet 2 PatentedApr. 3, 1923.

UNITED STATES 1,450,443 PATENT orrljcs.

MICHAEL H. `JUDGE, OIEY GREELEY, NEBRASKA.

GATE LATCH. f

Application led April 7, 19,21.Y Serial No. 459,277.

To allV whom t ma-y concern;

Be it known that MICHAEL H. JUDGE, a citizen of the United States,residing lat Greeley, in the county of Greeley and State of Nebraska,has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate Latches, ofwhich the followingis a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawing.

The invention relates to gate latches and has for itsobject to provide adeviceof this character comprising a sectional plate, each section ofwhich is adjustable. in relation to camming surface of one of theenlargements carried by one of the vertical bars and forced said barupwardly unt-il the gate carried member is disposed within the recesseswithin the enlargement of the vertical bars. Also to provide a gatelatch that'may be carried by the free end of the gateif so desired Afurther object is to provide the lower lugadjacentxits sides with;double surfaces for assisting in guiding the gate carried proj ectioninto position when-said gate is closed. Also to provide the verticallymovable bars with lugs with which lugs a lever carried by the gatecooperatesrwhereby upon manual operation of the lever both of thevertically movable bars may be raised for allowing the gate to be openedin either direction.

iVith the above and other objects in view the invention resides in thecombination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter setforth, shown inthe drawings, described and claimed, it being understood that changes inthe precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of]what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a special form of swinging gate showingthe latch applied thereto.

Figure 2 1s a vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of agate show-ing the latch. carried ybythe gate.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view 60,

taken yon line 5-5 of Figuret.

y Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a conventionalform of swinging l gate which swingsv on the hinges 2,; land 3designatesa latch which is carried by a gate post 4:.l The latch 3comprises a plate. 5 formed in two sections 6 and 7, which sections areoverlapped as at 8 and-extending. through said overlapped portion and'through'elongated apertures therein are securing screws 9 by means ofwhichscrews the plate sections 6 and 7 may be adjusted in relationtogeach other for adjusting their lugs 10 and `11 closer or further awayfrom each other and particularly for adjusting.

the lug 11 to various positions incident to sagging of the gate 1 or foranyy other l reason. The plate sections 6 and 7 are additionally securedto the post 4 by means of screws 12 which pass through. elongated Yapertures'in said plate sections. Vertically slidable in` apertures y13and 14 of the lugs 10 and 11 'carried by the plate sections 6 and 7 arevertically disposed 'spaced'bars 1,5, which bars 1-5 by beingspaced willnoty bind as oneor the other is. moved .vertically during a gatelatching operation. The bars 15 areprovided with enlargement whichenlargements rest upon the upper 'surface of the lug111 and limit thedownward move-l ment of the bars 15 after a latching operation.

The enlargements 1-6`arel be-velle-dv as at 17 and the'lug 11 isbevelled as at 18, said bevels being engaged by a` 'projection 19carried by the free end ofthe gate which projection is substantiallydiamond shaped in cross section and when the diamond shaped projection19., during a gate closing operation is moved to the position shown inFigure. 2 from either direction, one of the vertically disposed bars 15is forced upwardly until the projection 19 is positioned on the uppersurface of the plate 11 centrally, at which time the bar 15 "which has-r been moved drops downwardly permitting the enlargement to rest on lug11 and the projection 1`9 is held within the registering recesses 20 inthe enlargement 16 of the bars 15. It will be seen that the gate will beheld t against opening from either direction.

The free end of the gate is provided with Av a lever 21 which isApivoted as at 22 to the gate and has its arm 23 when the gate. is

sition when depression at handle is released,.

the end 23 will engage the under surfaces of the lugs 2li andsimultaneously move the bars 15 upwardly, after which the gate may beopened in either direction.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5 it will be seen that the structure issubstantially the same with the exception that the vertically disposedbars 15 are carried by the free end of the gate instead of by the gatepost t. ln this form the bars l5 are provided with lugs 24a on theirrear faces, with which lugs the transverse portion 241 of a pivoted U-shaped operation lever 2l'nl cooperates, whereby both bars l5 may besimultaneously raised.

From the above it will be seen that a gate latch is provided which ispositive in its operation, and one wherein the gate may be opened andlatched from either side.

The invention having been set forth what. is claimed as new and usefulis l. The combination with a swinging gate, of a latch for said gate,said latch comprisin(r a plate formed from overlapped vertical sectionsadjustable in relation to each other, apertured lugs arried by saidplate sections, vertically disposed independent spaced bars slidablymounted in the apertures of said lugs, said bars being provided withenlargements normally engaging the upper face of the lower lug, recessesin the adjacent inner Y faces of the enlargements, the outer sides ofsaid enlargements being bevelled outwardly and upwardly, the outerportion of the lower lug being bevelled downwardly and outwardly, aprojection carried by the gate and adapted to engage said bevelledsurfaces and move one of the vertically movable bars upwardly and passinto the recesses in the adjacent inner faces of the enlargementaccording to the direction of movement of the gate, lugs carried by thevertically slidable bars and a. lever pivoted to the free end of thegate and having its forward end disposed beneath the lugs of the barsand forming means for simultaneously raising said bars.

2, The combination with a gate, of a latch therefor, said latchcomprising a plate, spaced apertured lugs, vertically slidableindependent. bars slidable in the apertures of said lugs, said barshaving enlargements engaging the upper surface of the lower lug andhaving recesses in their inner adjacent faces, a projection carried bythe gate and adapted to be received in the recesses, bevelled surfacescarried by the enlargements and adapted to be engaged by the j gateprojection whereby one of the bars will be moved upwardly during a gatelatching operation, lugs carried by, the bars and a single lever carriedby the gatefor engaging the lugs carried by the bars for simultaneouslyraising the vertically disposed bars and releasing the gate whereby itmay be opened inwardly or outwardly.

3. A gate latch comprising a plate having apertured lugs, verticallymovable in dependent bars disposed in said apertures, said bars beingprovided with enlargements engaging the upper side of the lower lug ofthe plate and having recesses in the inner adjacent face of theenlargements, a projection carried by the free end of the gate andadapted to be received in the recesses of the enlargement, the outerlower corners of the enlargements being bevelled outwardly and upwardlyforming camming surfaces for engagement by the projection of the gateduring a gate closing operation from either direction. and means wherebythe vertically slidable bars may be simultaneously raised. In testimonywhereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

MICHAEL H. JUDGE.

